Jean M. Kruzich

Community Integration of Transition-Age Individuals: Views of Young with Mental Health Disorders

This qualitative study examines the perceptions of young adults with mental health disorders of community integration. Fifty-nine young men and women participated in 12 focus groups whose aim was to gain understanding of what community integration means to them. Focus group questions also explored barriers and supports for their community integration, as well as their goals for the future and advice to others facing similar challenges. Themes that emerged were reported within the multiple domains that participants used to describe their experiences of community integration (or the lack thereof). This study highlights the desires of these young people to achieve goals in education and employment and to have friendships. Participants identified a pervasive lack of understanding of mental health and prevalent stigmatizing attitudes as resulting in challenges to their community integration. Implications of the study discuss roles for behavioral health services in encouraging empowerment, choices, and connections so that young people with mental health disorders may achieve their preferred levels of community integration.

Preserving Family Bonds: Examining Parent Perspectives in the Light of Practice Standards for Out‐of‐Home Treatment

Family participation is a core system of care value that is supported by previous research in medical, child welfare, and mental health settings. However, many parents with children receiving out-of-home mental health treatment experience restrictions on contact. This cross-sectional study examines the experiences of families (N = 102) regarding parent-child contact in relation to examples of national accreditation standards. Results of the national survey found that most respondents (79.4%) reported restrictions on contact, including limits based on behavioral contingencies (65.7%) and point and level systems (52.5%).

Identifying Goals and Outcome Measures for Diversity Training

ABSTRACT Despite the growth in diversity training programs, little is known about the goal setting process used in developing diversity training and how its effectiveness is assessed. Based on in-depth interviews with 13 diversity consultants working in human service organizations, diversity trainers discuss their goals for managers, employers, and clients, as well as the methods they use to evaluate its effectiveness. Questions to guide decision-makers in identifying diversity training needs are offered, as well as directions for further research on diversity training.